Cowdray Park Golf Club in West Sussex commissioned a helicopter to drop more than 1,000 golf balls onto one of its greens from a height of 90 feet.

Each ball had been bought for £5 and every ball that went into the hole won its owner £250.

Two balls went into the hole and over £4,500 was raised for Treloar School and College in Hampshire, which provides education, care, therapy, medical support and independence training to young people with physical disabilities.

The balls were tipped from a modified wheelie bin that was attached by rope to the helicopter, and they plummeted onto the specially-made green.

The green was down a slight slope so the balls were dropped about 15 feet away from the pin.

It took about eight seconds for the balls to roll to a stop and then the winners were identified.

The idea was the brainchild of the owner of the firm that provided the helicopter – Atlas Helicopters – Mike Burns, who had been moved by the charity. He organised the event and sold the balls.

“It seemed like it would be an easy thing to do, but we had to get permission from the Civil Aviation Authority because you are not allowed to drop things from aircraft as it contravenes Article 129 of the Air Navigation Order,” he explained.

“After obtaining permission we did a couple of practice drops because it’s very difficult to get it right.

“For the drop my crew member Roy Adams had to position us because I couldn’t see the green from my seat.

“After he let the balls go all we could do was hope that they ended somewhere near the flag. We didn’t think we’d get a hole-in-one, never mind two.

“We were delighted with the result, but more pleased with the money raised for such an important charity.”

Joanna Edson, Treloar’s events and community fundraiser, said: “People have raised money for us in a variety of ways, but nothing like this has ever been done!”